k forth in the agonized cry:

"Mother! oh, mother!"

Then she realized that Wallace was there, and her heart went forth to
him in loving sympathy, for she knew that he had lost the only near
friend that he had in the world.

She did not move for a few moments, however, for she felt that his grief
was too deep and sacred to be disturbed; but after a little he grew more
calm, and then she said, in a low, tremulous tone:

"Wallace, I am so grieved."

He started, and turned his pale face toward her.

"Violet!" he exclaimed, astonished.

"Yes," she said. "I only came home yesterday, and by the merest chance
read the news of this to-day. Oh, Wallace, she was a dear, dear woman!"

"She was, indeed," he replied, clasping the hand she extended to him,
and feeling inexpressibly comforted by this fair girl's tribute to his
loved one.

He noticed, and was touched also by the fact, that Violet was all in
black, and he knew that she had robed herself thus out of grief for his
dead.

"I loved her," the young girl said, with touching simplicity. Then she
added: "I know I cannot say anything to comfort you, but, believe me, my
heart is full of sorrow for her loss, and of sympathy for you."

How lovely she was, standing there beside him, her fair face and sunny
hair in such striking contrast with her black dress, and with her azure
eyes raised in such heartfelt sympathy to his.

Her hand still lay in his, for both had unconsciously retained their
clasp after their first greeting, and he knew by her clinging fingers
how sincere her sorrow and sympathy were.

"My darling, I know it; and your presence is inexpressibly comforting to
me."

"My darling!"--he had said it without thinking.

During all the long weeks that they had been separated he had called her
thus to himself, and now the word had slipped from him unawares, and he
would have given worlds to have been able to recall them.

Violet's white lids fluttered and then drooped consciously, while a
vivid flush arose to her brow.

This brought Wallace to his senses. He also colored hotly, and a feeling
of dismay took possession of him. There was a dead silence for a moment;
then he added, humbly:

"Forgive me; I did not know what I was saying."

He would have released her hand, but her small fingers closed more
firmly over his; she shot one dazzling gleam of light up at him from her
lovely eyes and whispered, shyly:

"I am glad!"

And he knew that she was all